Graduate Policies and Procedures Manual

1.70 International Students

1.71 Application Procedures

Application materials should be requested from the University Center for International Education (UCIE). Applications for admission from applicants outside the United States should be submitted at least one term prior to the term in which the students wish to begin studies at Wright State University. International transfer students from U.S. colleges and universities, or international applicants already in the United States, must apply at least three months prior to the term in which they wish to begin their studies.

1.72 Additional Admission Requirements

A. Graduate applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree equivalent to a degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

B. Only an official transcript and the English translation will be accepted as evidence of academic preparation. If the Office of International Student Admissions cannot evaluate the credentials, the applicant will be required to submit his or her credentials to an evaluation service. The student must bear the cost of the evaluation.

C. International students must submit official transcripts to be considered for admission to the Graduate School. This requirement can be fulfilled by the submission of official transcripts or copies of official transcripts that are attested by the issuing university’s Registrar, Principal or Controller of Exams. In order to be considered official, the attested copy must contain the university’s stamped or embossed seal. In certain exceptional cases when students who have applied for admission while in the U.S. prove that it is impossible to obtain additional official transcripts or attested copies from their international schools, the Director of International Recruitment and Admissions may attest copies of official international transcripts. Only the Director of International Recruitment and Admissions will have this authority. These attested copies can be used for admitting students into the Graduate School.

1.73 English Proficiency

International applicants whose native language is not English and who do not have an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. academic institution or an overseas academic institution of high standards whose language of instruction is English must demonstrate proficiency in English. English proficiency is demonstrated by achieving a score of 550/213 or better on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), a score of 79 on the TOEFL-IBT exam, a band score of six (6) on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) ), or a minimum score of 57 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE). Regular admission to the graduate program in English, however, requires a minimum score of 600/250, a score of 100 on the TOEFL-IBT, a score of 7.5 on the IELTS, or a score of 68 on the PTE. Departments may set higher requirements, particularly for students who have applied for graduate teaching assistant positions. International students who have an undergraduate or graduate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. academic institution or an overseas academic institution of high standards whose language of instruction is English are not normally required to take the TOEFL. Academic programs may, however, require that international students with a U.S. degree take the TOEFL as an admission requirement. In addition, international students may be required by their academic advisors to take a university administered English writing placement test. The results of this test will be used to advise students in regard to supplemental on-campus classes required to strengthen their English skills.

Students who enter the LEAP program and pass LEAP Level 4 are exempt from the requirement to take the TOEFL or IELTS.

International applicants who are seeking Transient Status (1.17) and who intend to return to their home institutions to complete their degree are required to take the TOEFL for diagnostic purposes but are exempt from the above requirements, although they still have to meet the admissions requirements set by the academic program to which they are applying.

Students should be reviewed for English writing placement testing before they matriculate or as early in their academic programs as possible. Students who are required to take the placement test should be referred to University Division Testing Services. After the test has been scored, the results will be forwarded to the students' academic advisors. In those cases where it is recommended that the students take remediation, Testing Services will attach to the test results a permit to register for ENG 1050, ENG 1030, or ENG 1100. Academic advisors, after reviewing the test results, may require the students to register for the recommended remediation course. This requirement should be placed on the student's Program of Study.

1.74 Financial Support

A. Wright State University must be assured that all international applicants have adequate financial resources while attending the University. Generally the award of a graduate assistantship at the time of the admission decision will meet this requirement. However, if the applicant is relying on personal resources or is being sponsored, a financial statement form, affidavit of support, and an official bank statement indicating the amount of money available to the applicant for the purpose of studying at Wright State University must be provided.

B. Those applicants financing their own education from personal or family funds must also submit an official bank statement together with the financial statement. Students must meet the minimum dollar requirement as established by UCIE.

1.75 Immigration Regulations

When the student has met the above requirements and has been admitted to the University, a Form I-20 will be issued by the Director of International Student and Scholar Services (for students applying for the F-1 visa). Students already in the United States who wish to transfer from another university and are “out of status” should be advised that they would have to apply to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) for reinstatement.